Let's Try this Again — Moderate Auroral Storm Predicted for Dec. 10-11

A modest aurora is expected tonight similar to this display in Feb. 2012. Bob King


Not much happened with the aurora last night, but I've got some good news. We have another shot tonight (Dec. 10-11). Sometime the best predictions are off simply because it's next to impossible to know if those particle puffs from the sun will arrive with the correct configuration to connect into Earth's magnetic field and shower us with light. In that regard, space storm forecasts can be as tricky to figure as earthly weather.

There was a little activity yesterday around 8-8:30 p.m. CST, but then the curve went flat. The next round is expected to arrive this afternoon (U.S. time zones) with a strong G3 storm visible from Europe. Once darkness sweeps in over Canada and the U.S., activity is expected to decline to G1 (minor storm) and then expand into a moderate G2 storm between 9 and midnight CST.

It's nice to get a second chance. Let's cross our fingers! 

 

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